A pair of simple, black, round-rimmed eyeglasses resting on a colorful surface.

lentes

LEN-tehs

nounmA1

glasses?eyeglasses or spectacles

Also:spectacles?less common synonym for glasses

📝 In Action

Perdí mis lentes de sol en la playa.

I lost my sunglasses at the beach.

Necesito ir al oculista; creo que necesito lentes nuevos.

I need to go to the eye doctor; I think I need new glasses.

Aunque la montura de sus lentes era de oro, él siempre fue un hombre humilde.

Even though the frame of his glasses was gold, he was always a humble man.

Word Connections

Synonyms

gafas (glasses (very common in Spain))
anteojos (glasses (common in South America))

Common Collocations

lentes de contacto – contact lenses
lentes de aumento – reading glasses
ponerme los lentes – to put on my glasses

💡 Grammar Points

Always Plural

Even though 'lentes' refers to a single item (a pair of glasses), it is always treated as a plural word, like 'scissors' in English. You must use the plural article: 'los lentes' or 'unos lentes'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Singular

Mistake: "Compré un lente nuevo."

Correction: Compré unos lentes nuevos. (The singular 'lente' means a single lens component.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Clarifying the Type

To specify sunglasses, always say 'lentes de sol'. To specify prescription glasses, you can say 'lentes graduados'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: lentes

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'lentes' to refer to a pair of glasses?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

lente(lens (singular component)) - noun

oculista(eye doctor) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'lentes' and 'gafas'?

'Lentes' and 'gafas' both mean 'glasses' or 'eyeglasses.' 'Lentes' is the standard term used across most of Latin America, while 'gafas' is the standard term used in Spain and the Canary Islands.

If I only want to talk about a single lens (like in a camera), what word do I use?

For a single piece of glass used for focusing light (like in a camera or microscope), you use the singular form: 'la lente' (the lens).